In many Jain traditions, tomato is avoided in cooking, including curries, because it is considered a root/undesirable vegetable for strict Jain diet practice, and Jain food generally avoids root vegetables and underground growths to minimize harm to living beings.

So for a strict Jain curry, people usually use alternatives like:

• curd / yogurt
• coconut
• tamarind
• raw mango
• green spices and dry masalas
• pumpkin, bottle gourd, capsicum, or other permitted vegetables

However, practice can vary by family and region, so some Jains may be less strict than others. The most traditional and strict observance usually does not include tomato.